ESL Birthday Party Vocabulary List

Anticipation: The act of looking forward and being excited about an event. (noun)

Appearance: The way we look or a showing of something. (noun)

Appreciate: To like or enjoy an object or event. (verb)

Appropriate: Something that is suitable and correct for the occasion. (adjective)

Blow out: To send air out of your mouth to stop candles from burning. (verb)

Bow: A pretty loop of ribbon to decorate a present. (noun)

Busy: Lots of movement. (adjective)

Candles: Wax sticks that contain a wick and when lit they give light. (noun)

Celebrate: To mark an event in a fun way. (verb)

Chair: A solid piece of furniture for sitting on. (noun)

Chips: Potatoes cooked and finely sliced with various flavours added (US English). (noun)

Chocolates: Small sweets covered in a firm brown paste and grouped into a box. (noun)

Circle: A round shape with the ends linked together. (noun)

Clothing: The items that people wear to keep them warm or to look nice. (noun)

Community: A gathering of people in a special area. (noun)

Crisps: Potatoes cooked and finely sliced with various flavours added (UK English). (noun)

Decorate: To make something look nice and pretty. (verb)

Develop: To grow older and get better at something. (verb)

Energetic: Having lots of bounce and energy. (adjective)

Excitement: The feeling of being very happy and joyful. (noun)

Family: People linked through birth. (noun)

Father: A male parent. (noun)

Footballers: People who play the game of football. (noun)

Frosting: Soft sugar mixed to a paste with liquid and spread on the top of cakes (same as frosting). (noun)

Garage: A building where cars are kept or that is used as a general storage place. (noun)

Gift wrap: Brightly coloured paper that is used to cover a present (same as wrapping paper). (noun)

Gift: An item that is given to someone else, normally for a special occasion (same as present). (noun)

Gold: A precious shiny metal. (noun)

Goodie bags: The items that people take away from a party, unusually some cake and a small thankyou present. (noun)

Grandparent: The mother or father of someone’s mother or father. (noun)

Guests: The people who come to a party. (noun)

Hall: A building with a big empty space for moving around in. (noun)

Happy birthday: The greeting for when it is someone’s birthday. (noun)

Health: The state of someone’s body related to illness. (noun)

Helicopter: A flying machine that is lifted from the ground by rotating blades. (noun)

Ice-cream: Frozen milk and cream that is eaten with jelly at parties. (noun)

Icing: Soft sugar mixed to a paste with liquid and spread on the top of cakes (same as frosting). (noun)

Idol: Someone special who is elevated above other people and respected. (noun)

Independent: Being able to do things without help. (adjective)

Invitation: A way of asking someone to come to a party. (noun)

Jelly: A type of wobbly food that is eaten with ice-cream at parties. (noun)

Letter: A written form of communication. (noun)

Maturity: Growing in knowledge and wisdom as someone gets older. (noun)

Mother: A female parent. (noun)

Possess: To have something and to keep it. (verb)

Present: An item that is given to someone else, normally for a special occasion (same as gift). (noun)

Priority: To bring to the front of other objects, or to increase the importance of someone. (noun)

Receive: To be given something and to accept it. (verb)

Recite: To speak out loud from memory. (verb)

Ribbon: Thin piece of brightly coloured fabric that is used to decorate a present. (noun)

Singe: To mildly burn something. (verb)

Star: A shining light in the sky or a person with shining and outstanding qualities. (noun)

Statue: A shape that does not move. (noun)

Surprise: An unexpected event. (noun)

Teenager: A person aged between 13 and 19 years old. (noun)

Television: A visual form of entertainment. (noun)

Treasure: A valuable object that is greatly coveted and admired. (noun)

Wish: Something that you want to happen and ask for when blowing out candles on a birthday cake. (noun)
 ESL Birthday Party Conversations

Conversation 1
Situation: Lucy meets Bob in a greetings card shop.

Bob: Hello Lucy. I need some advice. Can you help me?

Lucy: I'll try Bob. What is your problem?

Bob: I've been invited to my Great Aunt's birthday celebration. She reaches the great age of 100 years next week.

Lucy: That's amazing! Will you be able to go?

Bob: Yes. I am trying to find a suitable card for her but there are only two cards in the 100 year old section. I don't like
either of them.

Lucy: I would suggest that you find a card that is beautiful to look at but left blank inside for your own message to be
added.

Bob: That's a very helpful suggestion. Thanks.

Lucy: Also they sell adhesive numbers that you can put on the card if you wish.

Bob: I'll do that. Can you suggest a suitable present for me to take?

Lucy: When you reach such a great age it is difficult to find something that she needs.

Bob: She is a little deaf but her eyesight is good. When I visit her she always complains of cold feet.

Lucy: Well what about a pair of lovely warm socks?

Conversation 2
Situation: Andrew and Tui attend Jane's birthday party.

Andrew: Happy birthday Jane.

Tui: Thank you for inviting us to your party.

Jane: Come in. Lovely to see you both. There are lots of people here that you know. Come and help yourselves to the
food.

Tui: Doesn't Jane look happy? She is so excited!

Andrew: My goodness! There is so much to eat, I'm glad I didn't have much lunch.
Tui: It all looks amazing. A good job the plates are large. I'm going to have a little of everything.

Andrew: I love salmon and the king size prawns look irresistible.

Tui: I fancy the cold ham and salad. These fresh bread rolls are warm.

Andrew: Let's go and find somewhere to sit.

Tui: That was delicious. I've still room for trying the selection of sweets.

Andrew: I don't want trifle or fruit but the different cheeses look tempting. I'll get a selection.

Tui: Look, Jane is bringing in her birthday cake.

Andrew: I think it's a chocolate cake. I won't refuse a piece of that.

Tui: Happy birthday Jane. Thank you for such a wonderful meal.

Andrew: Let's go into the other room and talk to some of our friends.

Tui: The music is very loud. I think you'll have to shout.

Andrew: I've a loud voice so no problem.

Describe a Picture
 Exercise 1 - ESL Birthday Vocabulary Identification of Meaning

Chose the word that matches the definition given in each of the five questions in this quiz.

1) What is the meaning of the following definition: Brightly coloured paper that is used to cover a

present (same as gift wrap)?

A) Teenager

B) Zoo

C) Wrapping paper

D) Treasure

2) What is the meaning of the following definition: Growing in knowledge and wisdom as someone

gets older?

A) Maturity

B) Idol

C) Radio

D) Mother

3) What is the meaning of the following definition:

The mother or father of someone’s mother or

father?

A) Icing

B) Grandparent

C) Jump

D) Juice

4) What is the meaning of the following definition:

To make something look nice and pretty?

A) Celebrate

B) Games

C) Crips

D) Decorate

5) What is the meaning of the following definition:

To send air out of your mouth to stop candles from

burning?

A) Appreciate
B) Blow out

C) Chair

D) Bow